Thursday, November 15, 2012

November: Chicago Dough Company

The Chicago Dough Company has been "dishing it out for forty years." Well when it comes to pizza, we definitely can take it, so we rendezvoused at the Chicago Dough Company to get served! Here's what we ate for November and how we liked it:

The Chicago Dough Company is located a hop, skip, and a jump away from Pizza Pan. Unlike Pizza Pan, CDC has cleverly substituted a zen (?) gravel garden for more parking spaces. With innovation like that, we knew we were in for a real treat. The exterior of the building needed a little more landscaping to be really attractive, but it still looked good with its brick facade, columns, and black lanterns. We also enjoyed their tribute to fall outside the main entrance (pumpkins, and hay bales, and flowers - oh my!).

Our readers will be disappointed to learn that CDC is the only pizza place in Bourbonnais (so far) that does not play contemporary Christian music. This is really a sad commentary on our society, demonstrating the extent to which religious syncretism has invaded even our most hallowed of deep-dish eateries. Anywho, the interior of this place is really classy: stained-glass style lights hang over individual wooden booths with checkered tablecloths and knick-knacks scattered about. The feel was somewhere between "let's make romantic googly eyes across the table" and "let's speak in Italian accents and talk about sending Johnny to sleep with the fishes." Bonus: we sat under a street sign that read "N Campbell Ave," which provides a nice segue for our shout-out to Tyler and Rachel Campbell for their gift of a sleek binder for our Pizza Season Blog outings. We'd also really like to thank Ken and Shirley Carr for their generous donation to our project. We're dedicating this one to all of you!

Back to the future, er, pizza. Our server, whose name was Sydney (and not Cindy or Cynthany like Andrew thought), greeted and seated us quickly. She even asked if our booth was to our liking and was great about checking in on us and bringing us our refills. Sydney also brought us Parmesan cheese (which is yummy) and drew a smiley-face on our bill (which is happy). Note: In past posts we have kept our server's name a secret as to protect their identities; but we are making an exception in Sydney's case due to her great service.

The dining area was relatively clean. Nothing fantastic, though, and the mens' bathroom was kinda grody. Get this, though: their vacuum cleaner sucks (in a dis way, not a functional way)! We overheard two of the servers talking about it, so it must be true. We also eavesdropped on a conversation between a server and a woman, the latter of whom was complaining about how cold it was inside. She was close, but cold is not the right word. Frigid would be more apt. Or perhaps Greenland-ic (Greenland is the icy one; Iceland is the green one; Ireland is the lucky one; Graceland is the Elvis one). For those of you who are concerned about the polar ice caps melting, just ship them down to CDC and they'll be fine.

There's not a whole lot to say about the menu at CDC, either good or bad. They have a buffet option for lunch (and Tuesday dinners) and have a few interesting specialty pizzas (like honey mustard chicken). Individual toppings are a bit steep, but specialty pizzas are a good value. We ordered a 10" deep dish pizza with Canadian bacon and pineapple ($12.27) and a Dr. Pepper ($2.19). Our food came in good time. It was delicious! For starters, the cheese was excellent (the menu said it comes from Wisconsin). The sauce was more tomato-y-esque-ish. It was cooked well and was not too greasy. Overall, this was probably the highest quality and freshest of ingredients we have had so far on the Pizza Season Blog. Amber also said it was the best-tasting pizza so far (and Amber is always right).

So how did the Chicago Dough Company fare according to our incredibly accurate and well-thought-out rating system? Here's how:

Atmosphere (location, theme, vibe): 4/5
Cleanliness (bathrooms, table settings, furnishings): 3/5
Menu (variety, dining options, cost): 4/5
Food (taste, quality, value): 5/5
Service (friendliness, efficiency, helpfulness): 5/5

Total: 21/25 - Recommended!

Winner, winner, pizza dinner! CDC is our highest-rated pizza place yet. What really put them over the top was great food and great service. At the same time, we wish they were a lot warmer, a bit cleaner, and more creative with fun ways to spend a dollar. Will  CDC reign supreme as we enter winter and survey more locations? Keep checking back each month to find out. Until next time - YOEPOAM!

If you would like more information about the Chicago Dough Company or want to write your own review, here's some helpful stuff:

Chicago Dough Company
545 S Main St
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
815-935-0300

Website: Chicago Dough Company

Extra Cheese: Last month we asked you what states have Aurelio's (Is Pizza) in them. The answer? Illinois, Indiana, Florida, Minnesota, and Nevada (and we think maybe Georgia now, too...hmm, peach pizza?). This month we'd like to thank our special student correspondent, Caleb Carr, for getting us a slice of the college pizza scene. Next time you're hard up for cash, try digging in the dumpster outside Little Caesar's just after midnight. If you manage to beat the grouchy hobos and the diseased rats there, you can enjoy yourself a delicious, lightly-used hot-n-ready!

Friday, October 26, 2012

October: Aurelio's is Pizza

 

October is National Pizza Month, and Aurelio's is Pizza! Seriously, that's what it says on all their signage. We would like to ask, “Compared to what?” Does this mean that Aurelio's is ontologically, at its very essence, pizza? Or is it that it represents the definitive word on what a pizza place ought to be? Inquiring minds and hungry tummies wanted to know, so we found out!

It was raining outside, so we didn't waste any time enjoying the exterior and landscaping. We will say, though, that Aurelio's is something of a landmark in Bourbonnais, is easy to locate, and offers ample parking. Once indoors, we were delighted to find that we had stepped out of Illinois and into Tuscany, Italy. The restaurant is very well themed, featuring floor to ceiling décor, including brickwork, an arched entryway, pleasant greenery, and other little Italian touches. We were particularly impressed with the creative, open floor plan. Aurelio's has spaces for dinner for two or for large parties. If crowded, it could become a loud room quickly, but we sat next to a girl's junior high soccer team and didn't feel overwhelmed. One additional note: we have discovered that every, and by every we mean all, Bourbonnais pizza joints play contemporary Christian music! “Why is this?” you may ask. We did. But only in our heads, because we didn't think our server would know the answer. More on that later...

Atmosphere aside, the restaurant was very clean and accommodating. Bathrooms were fantastic: spacious, decorated, and well-lit. There were arcade machines near the restroom for youngsters (although not so close or so loud to the dining area that they were off-putting). There was also a very nice take-out area with its own separate entrance, seating, and cashier.

The service at Aurelio's was a little—how shall we put it, hmm—absent. There was no hostess when we arrived, and her podium remained empty during the course of our meal. Honestly, we could have walked away with a dozen menus under our arm and no one would have been the wiser. We thought about it... Our server, who's name will be kept confidential, was patient with us while we looked over the menu but was caught off guard when we asked for a recommendation. Our food came quickly, but our bill did not. In fact, we were finished for a good ten minutes before somebody stopped by to ask us about a refill or dessert. When someone did come, she wasn't even our server, who, in her defense, was probably busy being abducted by the soccer hooligans.

Speaking of dessert, on with the menu! This blog is about pizza, but we have found cute dessert items at some locations. Last month it was Pizza Pan's gelato. This month, Aurelio's impressed us with a DEEP DISH COOKIE! How good is that?! We didn't have one, but we want you to. The menu offered good variety with the exception that there were no real signature pizzas, which we were expecting. We had a little crust confusion, so let us help you out... Aurelio's pizzas are all what they call “thin crust.” “Thick crust” and “stuffed” exist, but they are a different category and a different price range. We really liked that we could order five different sizes of pizzas, ranging from “Lil” (a.k.a. 6”) to “Fiesta” (a.k.a. Spanish...er, 18”). Additional toppings match the size of your pizza; you pay more for extra anchovies and meatballs on your large than you do on your small (and don't lie, you know you want more of those toppings).

Our food arrived on this fun little black tray thingy with bumps. It was a pleasant medium ground between our raised silver platter at Mancino's (of Bradley) and our cardboard box at Pizza (of Pan). We ordered a 10” pizza with Canadian bacon (it's not just ham!) and green peppers for $11.95 and two waters for cheap as free (just a reminder: at Aurelio's you have a server, so be prepared to tip). This is a pretty good value considering Aurelio's reputation as a top-notch eatery. We want to say to college students, “Don't be afraid to try it. You might like it! Then you can go back to your Little Caesar's that has been sitting in a box under your couch for a week.” The food looked very appetizing, was not greasy at all, and had plenty of toppings. That having been said, it was only average in taste and we thought the crust was stale. Also, DO NOT EAT THE PARMESAN CHEESE! It is not extra good. It may not even be cheese. We're guessing...ground nothing with a sprig of mint. Yum!

So how did Aurelio's (Is Pizza) measure up to our incredibly accurate and well-thought-out rating system? Take a gander:

Atmosphere (location, theme, vibe): 5/5
Cleanliness (bathrooms, table settings, furnishings): 5/5
Menu (variety, dining options, cost): 4/5
Food (taste, quality, value): 3/5
Service (friendliness, efficiency, helpfulness): 3/5

Total: 20/25 – Recommended!

Aurelio's offers an enjoyable dining experience with great atmosphere and good pizza. Its reputation precedes it, but it is neither as costly nor delicious as you may have heard. Maybe we just caught them on an off day, but with a little more effort put forward by the wait staff and a little more care on preparation of quality ingredients, we think Aurelio's could go from good to great! If you want to find out more about Aurelio's or check it out for yourself, check out the information below. Thanks for reading our blog! Feel free to post comments and check in again in November. Until then – YOEPOAM!

Aurelio's is Pizza
1600 North Convent Street
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
815-935-1212

Website: Aurelio's is Pizza

The Extra Cheese: Aurelio's is a small chain with restaurants in five different states. See if you can guess the five out of the following options and post your answer on the blog: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon.


Thursday, September 20, 2012

September: Pizza Pan

When you think about fall, you probably think about playing football with friends, jumping in a big pile of leaves, and carving pumpkins. Not us. We think about pizza. Mmm, pizza. It makes sense, though. Pizza is the color of fall! The red pepperonis, the yellow mozzarella, the delicious brown crust. It's like taking a big bite out of a tree, for Pete's sake! Sorry, Pete, but it's true. So for the month of September, we dawned our thermal underpants and finest flannel and visited Pizza Pan. Here's what we found out:

Pizza Pan is is located a comfortable walk's distance from Olivet Nazarene University near the campus' intramural fields. Initially, we were skeptical of our chosen eatery. There was little space available in a somewhat confusing parking lot, and the owner's idea of landscaping was to pile together a bunch of rocks in the front lawn...ironically where more parking could have been. Inside, however, we found a clean and friendly environment in which to dine.

We were immediately greeted by, not one, not two, but three of the kitchen staff, who just happen to be family. Aww! Cute points. Our cashier was quick to offer us a menu and help make recommendations for our first visit. She was even kind enough to tell us about ways that we could save money by using our ONU connection. Go tigers! After some serious deliberating and furrowing of brows, we decided to order Amber's favorite: barbecue sauce. More specifically, we chose a 12" grilled barbecue chicken pizza with bacon ($11.99) and two cans of pop ($1.29 each).

We put on our white gloves and inspected cleanliness next. The dining area, which seats up to twenty-two guests at a time, was nice but not amazing. There was little attempt at decorating and the furnishings were simple. Honorable mention ought to be given to Mrs. Pizza Pan Lady, who put together an appetizing-looking gelato display. What were particularly impressive were the bathrooms. The word we have chosen for them is "accommodating." Why accommodating you ask? We will tell you. First, they were clean. Second, there was more space and design-thought put into these small rectangles than the rest of the building. Third, they went that extra mile: fun mirrors, real soap, plants, a state-of-the-art urinal, and air fresheners. Another word might be "pleasant," but let's not get carried away.

Where Pizza Pan really shines is its menu. We're talking deep dish. We're talking large pizza with three toppings for $10. We're talking ten or more specialty items. Three features especially stand out. To begin with, Pizza Pan really seems to be trying to cater to college students. With your ONU ID you can pick up a medium-sized one-topping pizza for $3.99 - a better deal than even Little Caesars if you're willing to wait. Next, Pizza Pan offers second and third pizzas at a discount price. True, it's not really getting a "free pizza," like their advertisements claim, but the cost is nearly equivalent when buying multiples. Lastly, the menu is well organized. It is easy to find what you want, and that's a plus when you're starving to death because you haven't eaten in an hour.

Our food came in about 25 minutes. It came in a box. It came with a fox. It came wearing socks. Minus the fox part. And the socks. But the box part is for real. Really real. So real, it's box real. We're guessing they mostly serve takeout. As our server walked away, he turned around, cocked his head inquisitively, and queried, "Plates?" He subsequently brought us two Styrofoam plates. Our server then walked as far as the counter before he turned around again. "Forks?" We decided to help the guy out and got up to get ourselves some plastic forks and knives and some napkins. To their credit, one of the servers brought us two kinds of cheeses: regular and EXTRA GOOD! (extra good! - adjective, pertaining to a profane helping of garlic). Anyway, the pizza. We liked it :) It was a little on the greasy side and the crust a little crunchy, but that didn't stop us from polishing off the whole thing. There was a healthy heaping of both chicken and bacon, and we really enjoyed the barbecue sauce. Definitely delicious and smile-inducing. We finished our meal with a free sample of gelato, courtesy of our hosts.

So how did Pizza Pan hold up to our incredibly accurate and well-thought-out rating system?

Atmosphere (location, theme, vibe): 2/5
Cleanliness (bathrooms, table settings, furnishings): 3/5
Menu (variety, dining options, cost): 5/5
Food (taste, quality, value): 4/5
Service (friendliness, efficiency, helpfulness): 4/5

Total: 18/25 - Recommended!

Pizza Pan is a family-owned, family-friendly restaurant that you can tell is the product of a lot of pride and love. Although we're not sure that dining-in is your best option here, the variety and value offered by the menu makes this a great place from which to pick up dinner. If you want to find out more or give Pizza Pan your own review, check out their information and website below. Thanks for reading! Until next month - YOEPOAM!

Pizza Pan

481 South Main
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
815-939-1234

Website: Pizza Pan

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

August: Mancino's of Bradley

For our first foray into the delicious plethora of Kankakee pizza places we decided to venture off the beaten path and visit Mancino's of Bradley. Or is it Mancino's Pizza and Grinders? We're not sure. But here's what we found out!

Mancino's of Bradley is conveniently located a short walk's distance from Olivet Nazarene University, across from Perry Farm. Right away, we were pleased to find plenty of parking and a good attempt at landscaping. The building seemed clean from the outside and showed off nice Italian red, white, and green.

Inside we were greeted immediately by the cashier and picked up a menu. Mancino's offers an impressive variety of sandwiches called grinders (the history of the term "grinder" is even printed on their cups), but unfortunately does not have very many pizza options, despite "pizza" being in their name (maybe?). We chose a 12" Hawaiian pizza ($10.99) and two fountain drinks ($1.79 each).

While we waited for our food, we cased the joint. Amber immediately noticed that we were being spied on. That's right, the kitchen had one of those one-way mirror-window dooflippies like you see in Scooby Doo haunted houses. On the plus side, even though the kitchen was very large and very close to our seats, we weren't disturbed by a lot of noise. Quite the opposite: there was a Christian music station playing.

The decor was simple. There were about fifteen tables, covered with table cloths, some lighting and fans, and lots of windows (the windows were really great). Oddly enough, the chairs wobbled. I don't mean the chairs we sat in rocked. I mean Every Single Chair we checked was old and tilted a good 145 degrees (hyperbole) when you leaned forward to take a bite. Signs hung on the wall, telling you what kind of food you could order (salads, pastas, and cappuccinos (wait, what?)), and there were pictures of the food underneath each sign in case you didn't pass second grade. But seriously - SERIOUSLY - there was no picture of pizza under the sign that said "pizza." Instead there was a thermostat. So...I hope you like your pizza hot. Or cold. Or room temperature. I guess it depends on the thermostat.

One aspect of Mancino's really wowed us. One word: clean. I mean, immaculately clean. The floors were clean. The tables were clean. The bathrooms were clean. Servers walked around cleaning. Even the drink station was clean - and that never happens! We're talking sterile here, people. But in the good way. Not the hospital kind of way. A word of caution, though. Men, I'm sorry, but you can't use the bathroom. There is a women's restroom and a family restroom. That's it. You should have gone before you left.

Speaking of servers, ours came in about ten minutes with our food (not a bad wait at all). And get this: the pizza was presented to us on a silver platter!!! A raised silver platter. That spun. Awesome? We think so, yes. Time to eat. Those of you who use a napkin to soak up the grease on your pizza before eating it will be pleased to hear that it is unnecessary to do so at Mancino's. There was ample cheese, and the ham and pineapple were of a decent quality. We did not, however, particularly care for the crust (btw, no crust options). On the whole, we were happy with our meal but not really impressed with it, and the value was slightly underwhelming (especially if you want to add toppings).

How did Mancino's of Bradley hold up to our incredibly accurate and well-thought-out rating system?

Atmosphere (location, theme, vibe): 4/5
Cleanliness (bathrooms, table setting, furnishings): 5/5
Menu (variety, dining options, cost): 2/5
Food (taste, quality, value): 3/5
Service (friendliness, efficiency, helpfulness): 4/5

Total: 18/25 - Recommended!

If a friend asked us where to get pizza in Kankakee County, Mancino's of Bradley would not be our first recommendation. If, however, we were asked about this restaurant specifically, we would have a lot of positive things to say about its atmosphere, service, and non-pizza-y options. If you want to find out more or give Mancino's your own review, check out their information and website below. Thanks for reading! Until next month - YOEPOAM!

Mancino's of Bradley

200 North Kennedy Drive,
Bradley, IL 60915
815-935-7200

Website: Mancino's of Bradley